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10.09.2007 at 12:10AM PDT, ID: 22880684

	[x] Attachment Details

[x]

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7.4

The disk cannot be written to because it is write-protected...

Zones: Removable Backup Media, Miscellaneous Security, Windows XP Operating System

Tags: write, disk, protected, cannot

Hi friends !

I have a problem in my Flash Disk. When I plug it in the USB port, my PC detects it and I can see removable disk (G:) in My Computer. When I double click and open the disk, I can open it normally. BUT...

1. When I try to delete any file from Flash Disk, I can't delete any file. I receive the following error message...

Error Deleting File or Folder
Cannot delete <filename>: The disk is write-protected.
Remove the write-protection or use another disk.

2. When I try to copy a file from Hard Disk to Flash Disk, I can't copy. I receive the following error message...

Error Copying File or Folder
Cannot Copy <filename>: The disk is write-protected.
Remove the write-protection or use another disk.

3. When I try to format the disk from Windows Graphical Mode by right click--->Format, I receive the message...

The disk is write-protected.

4. When I use Command Prompt and give this command ---->Format G:, I receive the following message...

Insert new disk for drive G:
and press ENTER when ready...
(when I press ENTER, I receive the second message...)
The type of the file system is FAT32.
Verifying 491M.
Cannot format. The volume is write-protected.

5. When I scanned the Flash Disk with Kaspersky 6.0, it detected some viruses and threats, and suggested me to delete the files. When I chose the option to delete them, Kaspersky couldn't delete them and gave the following message...

The Volume is write-protected.

Note that: I don't think that the Flash Disk is corrupted because it is detected by the OS and showing 491 MB capacity. The file system on Flash Disk is also identified by OS as FAT32. When I copy one file From Flash Disk--->To Hard Disk, I can copy it. So I am quite sure that Flash is OK.

Also Note that I have not protected my Flash Disk by any Locking Utility. Previously I was able to open it and to copy/delete files on it

Please help me in this regard. Waiting for your valuable suggestion...

Hemant

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Question Stats

Zone: Storage

Question Asked By: JatinHemant

Solution Provided By: nobus

Participating Experts: 4

Solution Grade: A

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10.09.2007 at 12:14AM PDT, ID: 20039052

Rank: Genius

and235100:

Check that there really isn;t a switch on the side of the flash drive - that makes it write-protected.
If not - run a chkdsk /r from the command prompt on the drive - and then re-plug the device when that has completed.

Assisted Solution

10.09.2007 at 12:31AM PDT, ID: 20039101

Rank: Genius

SheharyaarSaahil:

your flash drive comes with a Write/Delete Protection switch, which can be used to protect the data from over-writing or deletion
http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/jsp/item/Item.jsp?Trade_TradeId=5466611

so and231500 is right about the switch on the drive, there should be a switch there to enable/disable the write-protection which you have to use to unlock the drive.

Assisted Solution

10.09.2007 at 12:38AM PDT, ID: 20039118

JatinHemant:

Thanks for your quick reply...

You see in my first posting, I missed to tell that there is a manual lock at the right side ot the flash. And I have applied this method. It was already unlocked. And all these error messages are coming in its unlocked state.

I applied your second suggestion...chkdsk /r

But it gave me the following message...

The type of the File System is FAT32.
Cannot lock current drive.
Windows cannot run disk checking on this volume because it is write protected.

Are there some ways to forcefully unlock the disk ?

Thanks,

Hemant

10.09.2007 at 12:40AM PDT, ID: 20039122

Rank: Genius

SheharyaarSaahil:

try locking the switch, and then hook the drive to check the results
if same error, then unlock it again after removing it from the system and hook again to check
if still the same error, then the switch is damaged, you have to get it fixed or buy a new drive

Assisted Solution

10.09.2007 at 12:47AM PDT, ID: 20039141

JatinHemant:

Hi SherharyaarSaahil !

I have worked on your suggestion locking and unlocking and checking. BUT it doesn't work. I agree with you that switch might be damaged.

Is there any manual way to repair the swtich ? Can we do it ourselves or we need to ask for some experts ? Will the repairing cost will be same as purchasing new one or it will be nominal ?

Thanks,

Hemant

10.09.2007 at 12:52AM PDT, ID: 20039157

Rank: Genius

SheharyaarSaahil:

depends;
the drive doesn't seem to be a costly one, i would not spend much on getting the button fixed and rather buy a new and more reliable disk :)

Assisted Solution

10.09.2007 at 01:09AM PDT, ID: 20039208

Rank: Sage

nobus:

try this, it has helped me with flash sticks :
http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/Other-DRIVERS-TOOLS/Others/Sony-EzRecover.shtml

Accepted Solution

10.09.2007 at 11:41AM PDT, ID: 20043374

Rank: Genius

johnb6767:

Just to throw this out there....

Look in the registry for the following....

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies]

If you see the DWORD value "WriteProtect" set to 1, change it to 0.

Then reboot and retry...

Assisted Solution

10.09.2007 at 11:41AM PDT, ID: 20043376

Rank: Genius

johnb6767:

Or some simple scripts to DL and do automatically....

Registry Hack to Disable Writing to USB Drives
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/registry-hack-to-disable-writing-to-usb-drives/

Assisted Solution

10.18.2007 at 01:07AM PDT, ID: 20099292

JatinHemant:

Thanks for your replies and sorry for not being on the discussion for a long time...

Please see that I couldn't find the provided registry path...
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies]

I could only nevigate upto Control, after that I neither found the entry key for StroageDevicePolicies or any subdirectroy named StorageDevicePolicies under Control Directory.

Are you sure this path is correct ?

Thanks,

Hemant

10.18.2007 at 05:30AM PDT, ID: 20100168

Rank: Genius

johnb6767:

Yes....

If it isnt present, then thats not the problem....

Assisted Solution

10.20.2007 at 04:27AM PDT, ID: 20114419

JatinHemant:

Thanks for your continuous support...

It seems that the lock is damaged and now I have decided to buy the new one.

Thanks,

Hemant

nobus

10.20.2007 at 04:34AM PDT, ID: 20114431

>> It seems that the lock is damaged << what lock do you mean?

JatinHemant

10.20.2007 at 04:50AM PDT, ID: 20114454

There is a lock in the right side of the flash. It is the switch for write protection. I opened and closed it but in both condition, I couldn't copy any data in the flash. I couldn't format the flash.

Any solution in this matter...

Thanks,

Hemant

nobus

10.20.2007 at 04:58AM PDT, ID: 20114475

yes- that is the write protect switch. i doubt if that is damaged; i suppose your flash stick just went bad.

JatinHemant

10.20.2007 at 05:04AM PDT, ID: 20114485

Thanks for your reply...

I have planned to buy a new flash as on the same discussion, I was suggested that new flash will cost the same as repairing and it is not easy to repair a flash.

Thanks again,

Hemant

nobus

10.20.2007 at 07:05AM PDT, ID: 20114814

i never heard of a repair for flash disks

20080236-EE-VQP-29 / EE_QW_2_20070628